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Author: 

Reynolds,  Helen 
Wilkinson 

Title: 

Annals  of  a  century-old 
business 

Place: 

[Poughkeepsie,  NY] 

Date: 

[1919] 


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THE  LIFE-STORY  OF  A  CENTURY-OLD 

BUSINESS 

1819—1919 


About  the  year  1800  a  youth  in 
CAUSES     his  early  twenties,  James  Reynolds, 

made  his  way  from  the  shore  of 
Narragansett  Bay  in  Rhode  Island  across  New 
England  to  the  little  village  of  Poughkeepsie 
on  the  Hudson  River.  He  was  born  while  the 
War  of  the  Revolution  was  being  fought  and 
grew  to  manhood  in  the  years  following  that 
war,  years  when  the  new-born  nation  of  the 
United  States  was  struggling  to  consolidate  its 
unity  and  independence,  amidst  the  difficul- 
ties of  the  economic  depression  that  resulted 
from  the  conflict.  From  the  static,  long  settled 
towns  of  New  England  the  younger  men  wand- 
ered forth  in  the  post-Revolutionary  days,  seek- 
ing new  opportunities  in  life,  and  this  migra- 
tory movement  it  was  that  brought  James 
Reynolds  to  Poughkeepsie  at  the  opening  of 
the  nineteenth  century. 


h 


Poughkeepsie,     with     some 
CONDITIONS    fifteen     hundred     inhabitants, 

was  incorporated  as  a  village 
in  1799  and,  in  the  next  twenty-five  years,  there 
took  place  in  the  community  steady  recupera- 
tion from  the  weakness  left  by  the  War  for  In- 
dependence. In  the  building  up  of  the  village 
James  Reynolds  bore  a  substantial  part  through 
his  contribution  to  the  growth  of  its  commer- 
cial activity.  High  up  on  the  hill,  above  the 
river,  Poughkeepsie  began  its  existence  as  a 
road-crossing,  with  a  Court  House  for  a  land- 
mark, and  its  business  continued  local  in  char- 
acter in  that  neighborhood  for  many  years. 
Down  on  the  river-front,  however,  commerce 
on  a  broader  scale  began  to  appear  at  the  time 
when  James  Reynolds  arrived. 

At     the     mouth     of     the 
OPPORTUNITY    Fall  Kill,  where  the  stream 

empties  into  the  Hudson, 
there  is  a  waterfall  which  is  first  heard  of  as  a 
site  for  a  mill  in  1683.  In  that  year  an  Indian 
made  a  deed  of  gift  of  the  falls  to  a  white  man 
and  the  deed  recites  that  the  falls  were  called 
^Tooghkepesingh."  This  is  the  first  known 
instance  of  the  use  of  the  Indian  term  which  ul- 
timately became  the  name  of  the  hamlet  on  the 
hill.  All  through  the  eighteenth  century  the 
mill  on  the  waterfall,   "Pooghkepesingh,"   was 


:W. 


The  Waterfall  called  "Pooghkepesingh"  in  1683. 
From  a  photograph  taken  1919 


owned  by  well  known  citizens.  It  passed  through 
the  hands  (among  others)  of  Myndert  Har- 
niense,  Colonel  Leonard  Lewis,  Clear  Everitt 
and  Robert  L.  Livingston  and,  in  1800,  title  to 
the  mill  and  the  falls  and  a  surrounding  parcel 
of  land  was  taken  by  three  brothers, — Martin, 
Isaac  and  Robert  Hoffman.  In  1807  the  Hoff- 
mans  formed  a  partnership  with  George  P. 
Oakley,  under  the  name  of  George  P.  Oakley 
(He  Company,  and  the  firm  introduced  modern 
business  methods.  They  began  the  systematic 
development  of  the  neighborhood,  building  a 
new  grist  mill,  plaster  and  saw  mills,  new  docks 
and  new  storehouses  and  advertising  the  im- 
provements. Then  the  farmers  of  Dutchess 
County  began  hauling  their  produce  to  the  new 
distributing  center.  By  1810  James  Reynolds 
(who  had  married  at  Poughkeepsie  in  1803)  had 
bought  land  of  the  Hoffmans,  built  a  dwelling 
for  his  family  and,  in  1811  (according  to  tradi- 
tion), was  in  partnership  with  Aaron  Innis  in 
a  line  of  boats  en  the  river.  In  1816  Reynolds 
&  Innis  opened  a  storehouse  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Fall  Kill  for  the  foodstuffs  the  farmers 
brought  from  the  county  and  for  ships'  supplies 
to  meet  the  needs  of  the  rising  river-trade,  and 
they  carried  both  freight  and  passengers  on  their 
boats.  Tradition  says  they  owned  a  shipyard 
and  built  sloops  James  Reynolds  was  also  one 
of  the  organizers  and  first  directors  (1819)  of  the 


0^ 


"4. 


' 


Original  Storehouse  built  in  or  before  1816 
by  Reynolds  &  Innis 


Type  of  Hudson  River  Sloop 

First  quarter  nineteenth  century 

From  a  woodcut 


INTENTIONAL  SECOND  EXPOSURE 


owned  hy  well  known  citizens.  It  passed  through 
the  hands  (among  others)  of  ^lyndert  Ilar- 
niense.  Colonel  Leonard  Lewis,  Clear  Everitt 
and  Robert  L.  Livingston  and,  in  1800,  title  to 
the  mill  and  the  falls  and  a  surrounding  parcel 
of  land  was  taken  by  three  l)rothers, — Martin, 
Isaac  and  Robert  Iloftnian.  In  1807  the  Hoff- 
mans  formed  a  partnership  with  deorge  P. 
Oakley,  under  the  name  of  George  P.  Oakley 
d  Company,  and  the  firm  introduced  modern 
business  methods.  They  began  the  systematic 
development  of  the  neighborhood,  building  a 
new  grist  mill,  plaster  and  saw  mills,  new  docks 
and  new  storehouses  and  advertising  the  im- 
provements. Then  the  farmers  of  Dutchess 
County  began  hauling  their  produce  to  the  new 
distributing  center.  By  1810  James  Reynolds 
(who  had  nuirried  at  Poughkeepsie  in  1803)  had 
bought  land  of  the  Hoffmans,  built  a  dwelling 
for  his  family  and,  in  1811  (according  to  tradi- 
tion), was  in  i)artnership  with  Aaron  Innis  in 
a  line  of  boats  en  the  river.  In  1810  Reynolds 
S:  Innis  opened  a  storehouse  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Fall  Kill  for  the  foodstuffs  the  farmers 
brought  from  the  county  and  for  ships'  supplies 
to  meet  the  needs  of  the  rising  river-trade,  and 
they  carried  both  freight  and  passengers  on  their 
boats.  Tradition  says  they  owned  a  shipyard 
and  built  sloops  James  Reynolds  was  also  one 
of  the  organizers  and  first  directors  (1819)  of  the 


^%;^|iiiiliilfi||iiiiii}ii!5;i!!^ 


Original  Storehouse  built  in  or  before  1816 
by  Reynolds  &  Innis 


Type  of  Hudson  River  Sloop 

First  quarter  nineteenth  century 

From  a  woodcut 


Poughkeepsie  d*  New  Paltz  Ferry  Company 
The  company  introduced  a  team-ferry,  as  an 
improvement  on  a  scow  with  sails  and  oars, 
and  followed  that  (in  1830)  with  a  steam-ferry 
that  bore  the  name  ''James  Reynolds."  In 
1819  George  P.  Oakley  &  Company  failed  and, 
soon  after,  their  grist  and  plaster  mills  on  the 
waterfall  and  their  docks  and  river-frontage 
were  acquired  by  Reynolds  d'  Innis.  The  mod- 
ern wholesale  house  of  TF?/i.  T,  Reynolds  d- 
Company,  Inc.,  is  derived  from  the  business  en- 
terprises of  Reynolds  d  Innis,  established  in 
or  before  1816,  but  the  year  1819  has  been 
arbitrarily  selected  as  the  date  of  its  founding 
because  accounts  of  that  year  show  wholesale 
transactions  in  the  original  storehouse. 

The   setting   for   the   busi- 
E\'OLUTIOX       ness  life  of  James  Reynolds 

consisted  of  a  growing  vil- 
lage, the  increased  use  of  water-power  and  the 
organization  of  scheduled  transportation  service 
on  the  Hudson  In  his  day  the  steamboat  was 
first  run  successfully  (1807)  and  sloops,  barges 
and  steamboats  were  all  in  use  in  the  'twenties. 
James  Reynolds  was  succeeded  by  his  sons, 
WiUiam  W.  Reynolds  and  James  Reynolds,  Jr. 
They,  again,  were  affected  as  a  firm  by  chang- 
ing conditions.  The  village  of  Poughkeepsie 
grew  in  population  and  importance  and  was 


Type  of  Steamboat  and  Barge  used  on  the  Hudson  in  the  'twenties 

From  a  woodcut 


./  r//?     /..^//// 


'////  /Wi/J 


V 


\ 


'•) 


i  ,uj 


Fly-Leaf  from  Ledger 
1818 


Upper  Landing  and  Steam  Ferry,  1840 

From  a  woodcut  in  Barber's  Historical  Collections 

of  the  State  of  New  York 


INTENTIONAL  SECOND  EXPOSURE 


Poughkeepsie  d*  New  Palfz  Ferry  Company 
The  company  introduced  a  team-ferry,  as  an 
improvement  on  a  scow  with  sails  and  oars, 
and  followed  that  (in  1830)  with  a  steam-ferry 
that  bore  the  name  'James  Reynolds."  In 
1819  George  P,  Oakley  rf*  Company  failed  and, 
soon  after,  their  grist  and  plaster  mills  on  the 
waterfall  and  their  docks  and  river-frontage 
were  acquired  by  Reynolds  A:  Inn  is.  The  mod- 
ern wholesale  house  of  JVm.  1\  Reynolds  d- 
Company,  Ine.,  is  derived  from  the  business  en- 
terprises of  Reynolds  A-  Innis,  esta])lished  in 
or  l)ef()re  1810.  but  tlie  year  1819  has  been 
arbitrarily  selected  as  the  date  of  its  founding 
because  accounts  of  that  year  show  wholesale 
transactions  in  the  original  storehouse. 

The   setting  for   the   busi- 
E\  OLl  TlOX       ness  life  of  James  Reynolds 

consisted  of  a  growing  vil- 
lage, the  increased  use  of  water-power  and  the 
organization  of  scheduled  transportation  service 
on  the  Hudson  In  his  day  the  steamboat  was 
first  run  successfully  (1807)  and  sloops,  barges 
and  steamboats  were  all  in  use  in  the  'twenties. 
James  Reynolds  was  succeeded  bv  his  sons, 
AVilliam  \V.  Reynolds  and  James  Reynolds,  Jr. 
They,  again,  were  affected  as  a  firm  by  chang- 
ing conditions.  The  village  of  Poughkeepsie 
grew   in   population   nnd   importance  and   was 


Type  of  Steamboat  and  Barge  iiseci  on  the  Hudson  in  the  'twenties 

From  a  woodcut 


// 


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( 


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X        '    / 


V, 


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I -My 


Fly- Leaf  from  Ledger 
1818 


I'pper  Landing  and  Steam  Ferry,  1840 

F>om  a  woodcut  in  Barber's  Hintorical  Collections 

of  the  State  of  New  York 


incorporated  as  a  city  (1854).  The  'thirties 
and  'forties  were  years  of  great  activity  on  the 
river,  the  result  of  the  break-up  (1824)  of  the 
monopoly  of  steamboat-traffic  exercised  by  the 
North  River  Steamboat  Company,  The  Erie 
Canal  (opened  1825)  brought  western  grain  to 
Albany  and  W.  W.  &  J.  Reynolds,  Jr.,  main- 
tained a  line  of  sloops,  to  connect  freight  and  pas- 
sengers with  the  canal,  and  built  a  larger  ware- 
house (1849)  at  their  Poughkeepsie  dock.  In  1854 
the  firm  built  its  own  steam  propellor,"Reliance. " 


It  may  be  permissible  to  interpolate  at  this 
point  that  the  * 'Reliance"  was  used  by  the 
United  States  Government  as  a  gun-boat  dur- 
ing the  Civil  War  and  that  a  famous  modern 
brand  of  food-products  was  named  in  honor  of  it. 


Type  of  Horse- Ferry 

Used  on  the  Hudson  in  the  'twenties 

From  a  woodcut 


Storehouse  of  W.  W.  &  J.  Reynolds,  Jr. 

1849 


The     greatest     change     that 
EXTENSION    occurred  in  the  days  of  W,  W. 

&  J,  Reynolds,  Jr.,  was  the 
opening  of  the  Hudson  River  Railroad,  an  event 
destined  to  revolutionize  trade  and  society  in 
the  valley  of  the  Hudson.  Trains  ran  between 
New  York  and  Poughkeepsie  in  1850  and  the 
road  was  completed  to  Albany  in  1851.  Steadi- 
ly the  locomotive  and  the  rails  encroached  upon 
the  water-routes  for  transportation  and,  by  1872, 
the  firm  (then  become  W,  W.  Reynolds  &  Co,) 
was  again  obliged  to  increase  its  facilities.  On 
a  siding  of  the  railroad,  opposite  the  Pough- 
keepsie passenger  station,  they  erected  a  new 
and  larger  warehouse,  to  which  in  1884  a  grain 


Type  of  Locomotive  and  Cars,  1850,  from  a  woodcut 


elevator  was  added.  This  change  of  site  marked 
the  close  of  the  long  period  of  years  in  which 
the  business  had  been  identified  in  varied  forms 
with  the  river-front  and  the  Fall  Kill  It  also 
marked  the  opening  of  the  modern  chapter  of 
the  history  of  the  house. 


PRESENT 


In  the  last  quarter  of  the  nine- 
teenth century  the  grandsons  of 
James  Reynolds  developed  still 
more  broadly  the  business  he  established.  After 
187!2,  when  the  large  storehouse  was  opened  on 
the  line  of  the  railroad,  their  boats  on  the  river 
were  discontinued  and  their  warehouse  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Fall  Kill  closed.  In  1887  they 
added  to  their  flour  and  grain  elevator  a  depart- 
ment for  wholesale  groceries,  an  offshoot  which, 
like  many  a  child,  has  now  outgrown  its  parent. 
This  branch  had  by  1909  become  so  enlarged, 
had  reached  out  so  widely  and  in  such  complex 
ways,  that,  for  the  third  time,  a  more  capacious 
warehouse  was  built  to  meet  increased  needs. 
In  this  latest  building  one  grandson  and  two 
great-grandsons  of  James  Reynolds  celebrate 
in  June,  1919,  a  rounded  century  of  business  by 
a  family  and  a  firm.  The  founder  of  the  house 
lived  in  a  post-war  period.  He  knew  its  difficul- 
ties and  its  opportunities  and  had  the  acumen 
to  build  out  of  these  elements  a  substantial 
commercial     structure     for     himself     and     his 


Storehouse  of  W.  W.  Reynolds  &  Company,  1872 


OflSce  of  Reynolds  &  Company,  1889 


I 


INTENTIONAL  SECOND  EXPOSURE 


elevator  was  added.  This  clian,i^e  of  site  marked 
the  close  of  the  loni>'  period  of  years  in  which 
the  business  had  been  identified  in  varied  forms 
with  the  river-front  and  the  Fall  Kill  It  also 
marked  the  opening  of  the  modern  chapter  of 
the  history  of  the  house. 


PK 


\  ; 


In  the  last  c|uarter  of  the  nine- 
teenth century  the  grandsons  of 
James  Reynolds  developed  still 
more  broadly  the  business  lie  established.  After 
IST':^,  when  the  large  storehouse  was  ojjened  on 
the  line  of  the  railroad,  tlieir  l)oats  on  the  river 
were  discontinued  and  their  warehouse  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Fall  Kill  closed.  In  1S87  thev 
added  to  their  flour  and  grain  elevator  a  depart- 
ment for  wliolesale  groceries,  an  offshoot  which, 
like  many  a  child,  lias  now  outgrown  its  i)arent. 
This  branch  had  by  1909  become  so  enlarged, 
had  reached  cut  so  widely  and  in  such  complex 
ways,  that,  for  the  third  time,  a  more  cai)acious 
wju-ehouse  was  built  to  meet  increased  needs. 
In  this  latest  building  one  grandson  and  two 
great-grandsons  of  James  Reynolds  celebrate 
in  June,  1919,  a  rounded  centurv  of  business  bv 
a  family  and  a  firm.  The  founder  of  the  house 
lived  in  a  post-war  ])eri()d.  He  knew  its  difficul- 
ties and  its  opportunities  and  had  the  acumen 
to  build  out  of  these  elements  a  substantial 
commercial     structure     for     himself     and     his 


■"'H^  •  ff^' 


fi.-f*^^'--'"        '-iS?^''-^<^A 


r.<  .    "^f  ^'>^* 


^  ,.^j/.»*^^ 


^.V'-V 


Storehouse  of  W.  W.  Reynolds  &  Company,  1872 


i 


Office  of  Reynolds  &  Company,  1889 


Ill 


community.  In  his  example  and  success  lies  a 
prophecy,  it  is  hoped,  of  the  extended  prosperi- 
ty and  usefulness  of  this  house  in  the  second 
century  of  its  existence. 


FUTURE 


The  distribution  of  foodstuffs 
in  large  quantities,  to  large  num- 
bers, over  large  areas  has  been  the 
business  of  this  house  from  its  inception.  And 
distribution  has  always  been  dependent  upon 
transportation.  Sailing  vessels,  barges  towed 
by  steam,  steam-pro pellors  and  the  railroad 
have  followed  each  other  in  succession  in  the  ex- 
perience of  the  house.  In  1919  the  motor-truck 
is  already  well  established  as  an  increasingly 
important  factor  in  distribution.  Moving  in- 
dependently, without  a  time-table  or  tracks,  it 
penetrates  the  territory  surrounding  Poughkeep- 
sie  for  wide  distances  and  serves  rural  districts 
off  the  Hne  of  a  railroad.  In  the  spring  of  1919 
Poughkeepsie  was  made  a  terminal  for  the  en- 
larged and  improved  barge  canal  system  and 
the  site  of  the  terminal  landing  is  almost  under 
the  eaves  of  the  warehouse  of  Wm.  T.  Reynolds 
&  Co.  Shortly  before  the  Great  War  began 
the  Panama  Canal  was  opened.  The  war  in- 
terrupted its  trade  usefulness  temporarily  but, 
with  the  coming  of  peace,  there  is  prospect 
that  the  food-products  of  the  sunny  regions 
(4  the  Pacific  will  be  brought  by  the  company 


Motor  Trucks 
1919 


0 


Terminal  of  Barge  Canal 

Poughkeepsie 

1919 


'  a 


INTENTIONAL  SECOND  EXPOSURE 


[\ 


^ 


^ 


coiiimiinity.  In  his  example  and  success  lies  a 
prophecy,  it  is  hoped,  of  the  extended  prosperi- 
ty and  usefulness  of  this  house  in  the  second 
century  of  its  existence. 

The  distribution  of  foodstuffs 
Fill  Rl  "^  large  quantities,  to  large  num- 
bers, over  large  areas  has  been  the 
business  of  this  house  from  its  inception.  And 
distribution  has  always  been  dependent  upon 
transportation.  Sailing  vessels,  barges  towed 
by  steam,  steam-propellors  and  the  railroad 
have  followed  each  other  in  succession  in  the  ex- 
perience of  the  house.  In  1919  the  motor-truck 
is  already  well  established  as  an  increasingly 
important  factor  in  distril)ution.  Moving  in- 
dependently, without  a  time-table  or  tracks,  it 
penetrates  the  territory  surrounding  Poughkeep- 
sie  for  wide  distances  and  serves  rural  districts 
off  the  line  of  a  railroad.  In  the  spring  of  1919 
Poughkeepsie  was  made  a  terminal  for  the  en- 
larged and  improved  barge  canal  system  and 
the  site  of  the  terminal  landing  is  almost  under 
the  eaves  of  the  warehouse  of  Wm.  T.  Reynolds 
d:  Co,  Shortly  before  the  Great  War  })egan 
the  Panama  Canal  was  opened.  The  war  in- 
terrupted its  trade  usefulness  temporarily  but, 
with  the  coming  of  peace,  there  is  prospect 
that  the  food-products  of  the  sunny  regions 
of  the  Pacific  will  be  brought  by  the  company 


^T 


Motor  Trucks 
1919 


i 


Terminal  of  Barge  Canal 

Poughkeepsie 

1919 


v. 


:j.^^<:^^ 


directly  to  Poughkeepsie  by  way  of  the  canal, 
the  Atlantic  and  the  Hudson.  These  are  three 
of  the  steps  in  the  evolution  of  transportation 
in  the  firm's  second  century.  Will  the  com- 
mercial aeroplane  be  the  fourth.^  Looking  back 
over  a  hundred  years  of  steady  progress  in  the 
measure  and  methods  of  its  business  Wm.  T, 
Reynolds  &  Co,  looks  forward  into  the  future 
with  confidence  that  the  coming  years  hold 
promise  of  new  opportunities  and  new  pos- 
sibilities for  growth  and  development. 


PARTNERSHIPS  AND  FIRM-NAMES 

REYNOLDS  &  INNIS,  18(11)— 1837. 

Bv  tradition  James  Reynolds  and  Aaron  Innis  were 
in  partnership  in  1811.  Evidence  shows  their  asso- 
ciation in  business  in  1816.  They  remained  in  more 
or  less  close  connection  until  1837.  From  1816  to 
1832  Reynolds  &  Innis  conducted  a  storehouse  on 
the  Fall  Kill  at  the  junction  of  Mill  and  Water  streets, 
where  they  handled  flour,  grain,  plaster,  farm-produce 
and  ships'  supplies.  In  1819  their  accounts  show 
wholesale  transactions  and  from  that  year  the  present 
wholesale  house  of  Win.  T.  Reynolds  &  Co.,  Inc.y 
dates  its  existence.  Reynolds  &  Innis^  in  partnership 
with  Captain  John  C.  Van  Valkenburgh,  sailing 
master,  also  operated  a  line  of  boats  between  Pough- 
keepsie and  New  York  under  the  firm-name  of  J.  C. 
Van  Valkenburgh  &  Co.  About  1825  they  added  a 
service  between  Poughkeepsie  and  Albany.  James 
Reynolds  and  Aaron  Innis  were  engaged  in  the  river- 
trade  together  from  (perhaps)  1811  to  1834.  They 
also  owned  in  partnership  from  1821  to  1837  the  mills 
on  the  Fall  Kill,  in  which  they  ground  grist  and  plas- 
ter and  cut  dyewoods. 

W.  W.  &  J.  REYNOLDS,  JR.,  1835—1865. 

In  1832  the  storehouse  of  Reynolds  d'  Innis  was 
taken  over  by  William  Winans  Reynolds  (elder  son  of 
James  Reynolds)  and  he,  in  1835,  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  his  brother,  James  Reynolds,  Jr.  W.  W. 
and  J.  Reynolds,  Jr.,  built  a  new  warehouse  in  1849 
and  they  maintained  a  line  of  sloops  between  Pough- 
keepsie and  the  terminal  of  the  Erie  Canal  at  Albany 
until  1854.  In  the  latter  year  they  replaced  their 
sloops  with  the  steam-propellor,  "Reliance." 


REYNOLDS  &  SON,  1865—1869. 

At  the  death  of  James  Reynolds,  Jr.,  the  firm  was 
reorganized  and  included:  William  Winans  Reynolds, 
William  Thacher  Revnolds. 


W.  W.  REYNOLDS  &  COMPANY,  1869—1874. 

When  the  elder  son  of  James  Reynolds,  Jr.,  attained 
his  majority  the  firm  was  reorganized  and  included: 
William  Winans  Reynolds,  William  Thacher  Reynolds, 
John  Richardson  Reynolds.  During  this  partnership 
a  new  warehouse  was  built  (1872)  on  a  new  site  near 
the  railroad,  the  old  buildings  were  closed  and  the  boat- 
line  discontinued. 


REYNOLDS  &  COMPANY,  1874—1889. 

At  the  death  of  William  Winans  Reynolds  the  firm 
was  reorganized  and  included:  William  Thacher  Rey- 
nolds, John  Richardson  Reynolds,  George  E.  Cramer. 
During  this  partnership  a  wholesale  grocery  depart- 
ment was  added  (1887)  to  the  flour  and  grain  business 
of  the  house. 


REYNOLDS  &  CRAMER,  1898-1899. 

At  the  death  of  John  Richardson  Reynolds  the  firm 
was  reorganized  and  included:  William  Thacher  Rey- 
nolds, George  E.  Cramer,  Clarence  James  Reynolds, 
Harris  Smith  Reynolds. 


WM.  T.  REYNOLDS  &  CO.,  1900—1917. 

At  the  death  of  George  E.  Cramer  the  firm  was  re- 
organized and  included:  William  Thacher  Reynolds, 
Clarence  James  Reynolds,  Harris  Smith  Reynolds. 

WM.  T.  REYNOLDS  &  CO.,  Inc.,  1917. 

At  the  death  of  William  Thacher  Reynolds  the  firm 
was  reorganized  and  included :  Harris  Smith  Reynolds, 
May  L.  Reynolds,  Clarence  James  Reynolds,  Paul 
Innis  Reynolds. 


.^^^-=^3^?^-  li^riiftf ,  i,y 


William  Winans  Reynolds 


James  Reynolds,  Jr. 


: 


William  Thacher  Reynolds 


John  Richardson  Reynolds 


JAMES  REYNOLDS 

Born  1777 
Died  1856 


WILLIAM  W.  REYNOLDS 

Born  1807 
Died  1873 


JAMES  REYNOLDS,  Jr. 

Born  1815 
Died  18G5 


JOHN  R.  REYNOLDS 

Born  1847 
Died  1889 


WILLIAM  T.  REYNOLDS     CLARENCE  J.  REYNOLDS 

Born  1888 
Died  1917 


HARRIS  S. 
REYNOLDS 


MAY  L. 
REYNOLDS 


PAUL  I.  REYNOLDS 


Chart  showing  relationship  between  those  of 
James  Reynolds'  descendants  who  have  been 
members  in  the  firm  which  he  founded. 


* 


George  E.  Cramer 


Clarence  .Tames  Reynolds 


Harris  Smith  Reynolds 


PauJ  Innis  Reynolds 


I  I 


Ob 


WM.  T.  REYNOLDS  &  CO.,  INC. 


1919 


In  1914  a  national  business  ex- 
A  MODERN  P^rt  made  the  statement  that 
BUSINESS  there  were  not  four  hundred  busi- 
ness houses  in  the  United  States 
which  were  a  century  old,  while  commercial  statis- 
tics show  that  out  of  (approximately)  every  two 
hundred  enterprises  only  one  lives  for  thirty-five 
years.  In  the  light  of  these  facts  the  long  history 
of  Wm.  r.  Reynolds  &  Co.  is  noteworthy.  But, 
in  modern  times,  mere  age  is  without  value  in  the 
business  world.  Vitality  and  growth  are  essential 
to  the  success  either  of  an  old  or  new  firm.  It 
is  therefore  pointed  out  here  that,  although  belong- 
ing to  the  limited  class  of  century-old  concerns,  this 
house  is  now  doing  a  more  extensive  business  than 
ever  before  and  one  which  is  steadily  gaining  and 
developing.  Following  the  enlargement  and  im- 
provement of  the  company's  buildings,  carried  out 
in  1909-1910,  all  departments  have  increased  in 
activity  and  some  have  nearly  doubled  previous 
records.  The  headquarters-plant  occupies  a  site 
providing  unsurpassed  facilities  for  transportation, 
connecting  as  it  does  with  the  tracks  of  both  the 
Netv  York  Central  and  Hudson  River  and  the  New 


S;^ 


INTENTIONAL  SECOND  EXPOSURE 


..,#*» 


'U 


'«■•? 


I— < 
31 


0) 


WM.   T.   REYNOLDS   &   CO.,   INC. 


1919 


IR  hi.^L.'^^ 


In  1914  a  national  business  ex- 
pert made  the  statement  that 
there  were  not  four  hundred  busi- 
ness houses  in  the  United  States 
which  were  a  century  old,  while  commercial  statis- 
tics show  that  out  of  (approximately)  every  two 
hundred  enterprises  only  one  lives  for  thirty-five 
years.  In  the  light  of  these  facts  the  long  history 
of  Win,  T.  Reynold^'  &  Co.  is  noteworthy.  But, 
in  modern  times,  mere  age  is  without  value  in  the 
business  world.  Vitality  and  growth  are  essential 
to  the  success  either  of  an  old  or  new  firm.  It 
is  therefore  pointed  out  here  that,  although  belong- 
ing to  the  limited  class  of  century-old  concerns,  this 
house  is  now  doing  a  more  extensive  business  than 
ever  before  and  one  which  is  steadily  gaining  and 
developing.  Following  the  enlargement  and  im- 
provement of  the  company's  buildings,  carried  out 
in  1909-1910,  all  departments  have  increased  in 
activity  and  some  have  nearly  doubled  previous 
records.  The  headquarters-plant  occupies  a  site 
providing  unsurpassed  facilities  for  transportation, 
connecting  as  it  does  with  the  tracks  of  both  the 
New  York  Central  and  Hnd.svn  River  and  the  Sew 


""   "  "l?f 


.-SK^^. 


I 


■^^■ 


/ 


-^^^■^/T 


York,  New  Haven  and  Hartford  Railroad^s  and  with 
the  shipping  lines  on  the  Hudson  River.  The  build- 
ings are  of  reinforced  concrete,  fire-proof  construc- 
tion, are  equipped  with  modern  labor-saving  appli- 
ances, and  are  kept  in  strictly  sanitary  condition. 
They  include  the  main  offices,  a  refrigerating  plant, 
a  coffee  roasting  and  packing  department,  a  grain 
elevator  and  mills.  The  several  departments  con- 
ducted are  those  of:  staple  and  fancy  groceries; 
teas,  coffees,  spices  and  specialties;  butter,  cheese, 
eggs  and  provisions;  flour,  grain  and  feeds;  cigars 
and  tobacco.  Heavy  motor-trucks  and  double 
and  single  horse-drawn  trucks  run  between  the 
warehouses  and  the  terminals  and  make  deliveries. 

The  success  of  any  business  is 
PFRSOWFT       d^P^ndent    in    a    large    measure 

upon  cooperation  between  the 
firm  and  those  who  are  employed 
by  it.  In  this  respect  Wm.  T.  Reynolds-  &  Co. 
has  had  an  enviable  experience.  Throughout  the 
century  past,  men  have  entered  the  service  of  the 
house,  stayed  with  it  and,  by  loyalty  and  untiring 
effort,  have  played  an  important  part  in  the  success 
achieved.  Some  of  them  have  worked  for  the  firm 
for  all  of  their  active  years,  in  which  connection 
sentiment  calls  for  mention  of  the  name  of  *'Tom" 
Ward,  who  came  to  the  elevator  upon  his  return 
from  the  Civil  War  and  who  only  lately  died,  after 
more  than  fifty  years  of  faithfulness.  At  the 
present  time  there  is  a  roll  of  some  seventy-five  men 
and  women,  associated  with  the  company.  One  of 
these  has  rounded  thirty-five  years  of  service;  several 


%^/"''"  ^ 


I 
I 


Main  Offices,  1919 
Wm.  T.  Reynolds  &  Co.,  Inc 


INTENTIONAL  SECOND  EXPOSURE 


I 


[i 


n 


Yorh\  Xcir  Ilarcn  and  Hartford  Railroads  and  with 
the  sliippino'  lines  on  the  Hudson  River.  The  buihl- 
ings  are  of  reinforced  concrete,  fire-i)roof  construc- 
tion, are  equipped  with  modern  lal)or-savin^'  a])i)li- 
ances,  and  are  kept  in  strictly  sanitary  conch'tion. 
Tliey  inchule  the  main  offices,  a  refrigerating-  plant, 
a  coffee  roasting  and  packing  ch^partment,  a  grain 
elevator  and  mills.  The  several  dej)artments  con- 
ducted are  those  of:  staple  and  fancy  groceries; 
teas,  coffees,  spices  and  specialties;  hutter,  cheese, 
eggs  and  provisions;  flour,  grain  and  feeds;  cigars 
and  tol)acco.  Heavy  motor-trucks  and  douhle 
and  single  horse-drawn  trucks  run  between  the 
warehouses  and  the  terminals  and  make  deliveries. 

The  success  of  any  business  is 
dependent  in  a  large  measure 
ui)on  cooperation  between  the 
Arm  and  those  who  are  emj)loyed 
by  it.  In  this  resj)ect  II' m.  T.  Reynolds  di-  Co. 
has  had  an  enviable  exj)erience.  Throughout  the 
century  past,  men  have  entered  the  service  of  the 
house,  stayed  with  it  and,  by  loyalty  and  untiring 
ett'ort,  have  played  an  important  ]>art  in  the  success 
achieved.  Some  of  them  have  worked  for  the  firm 
for  all  of  their  active  years,  in  which  connection 
sentiment  calls  for  mention  of  the  name  of  '*Tom" 
Ward,  who  came  to  the  elevator  upon  his  return 
from  the  Civil  War  and  who  only  lately  died,  after 
more  than  fifty  years  of  faithfulness.  At  the 
present  time  there  is  a  roll  of  some  seventy-five  men 
and  women,  associated  with  the  company.  One  of 
these  has  rounded  thirty-five  years  of  service;  several 


Main  Offices,  1919 
\Vm.  T.  Revnolds  &  Co.,  Inc 


^. 


w 


II 
It 


have  passed  the  quarter-century  mark.  Those 
who  have  been  with  the  business  for  fifteen  years, 
or  for  more,  are: 


Daniel  L.  Beal 
N.  Jay  Boyce 
Samuel  C.  Boyce 
John  F.  Clark 
James  H.  Decker 
Andrew  Henry 
Manus  J.  Henry 
John  A.  Kane 
John  Kelly 
Mary  A.  Kelly 


Guy  A.  Light 
William  H.  McLean 
John  J.  Manogue 
Edward  F.  Myers 
Percy  L.  Reynolds 
John  E.  Sweeney 
John  B.  Van  Keuren 
Edgar  D.  Van  Nosdall 
Lewis  Van  Vlack 
Charles  H.  White 


John  White 


SOURCE  OF 
SUPPLY 


In  this  matter-of-fact  old  world 
romance  is  often  forgotten  but 
it  is  present  in  almost  all  things 
if  it  is  only  looked  for.  Even  in 
the  materialistic  sphere  of  business  romance  is  to 
be  found  and  in  no  business  is  it  more  abundant  and 
colorful  than  in  that  of  the  dealer  in  food-supplies. 
Let  the  average  consumer  pause  and  consider  that, 
for  the  setting  of  his  table,  the  tropics,  with  their 
luxuriant  growths,  are  drawn  upon;  and  that  the 
American  prairies,  with  their  fields  of  waving  grain, 
the  vineyards  on  the  hills  and  the  farms  in  the  val- 
leys all  yield  their  products  to  his  use  and  pleasure. 
Sunshine  and  blue  sky,  brilliant  vegetation,  plant- 
fruit-and  flower-life,  the  windswept  ocean,  the  roll- 
ing plains,  the  lush  meadows  with  the  cattle,  the 
orchards  and  the  gardens,  man's  labor,  daring  and 


jaj-"""  --  ••- 


adventure, — all  these  form  integral  parts  of  a  back- 
ground which  is  actual  and  real  and  yet  poetic 
where  food-stuffs  are  concerned.  Wm.  T.  Reynolds 
&  Co.  searches  the  markets  of  the  world  for  its 
wares  and,  in  addition  to  the  goods  it  assembles 
from  great  distances,  it  has  exceptional  advantages 
in  its  location  in  the  heart  of  the  Hudson  valley. 
Close  to  Poughkeepsie  there  are  in  operation  can- 
ning and  preserving  industries,  the  outputs  of  w  hich 
reach  the  consumer  largely  through  this  company. 
The  aim  of  the  house  is  to  furnish  its  customers 
with  food-products  of  such  a  standard  of  excellence 
as  shall  make  the  firm-name  always  a  synonym  for 
high  quality. 


AREA  OF 
DISTRIBUTION 


The  grain  and  feed  busi- 
ness of  Wm,  T.  Reynolds  & 
Co.  reaches  a  wide  territory 
and  retail  dealers  are,  as  a 
rule,  served  by  direct  ship- 
ments of  grain  from  mills  in  the  west  and  with 
poultry  and  dairy  feeds,  flour,  etc.,  in  mixed  car- 
loads from  the  company's  plant  at  Fulton,  N.  Y. 
The  trade  of  the  wholesale  grocery  department 
covers  an  area  within  a  radius  of  approximately 
seventy-five  miles  from  Poughkeepsie.  During 
the  Great  War,  1914-1918,  large  shipments  have 
been  made  abroad  and  to  remote  parts  of  the  LTnited 
States.  Follow^ing  the  close  of  the  war  new  export 
demands  are  arising  and  the  company  now  stands 
on  the  threshold  of  a  period  which  foreshadows  new 
conditions  and  new  opportunities  in  markets  and 
distribution. 


'M*'  X,:-    TV 


:3^ 


SUBSIDIARY 
PLANTS 


In  1895  Reynolds'  cC:  Cramer 
purchased  the  mill  and  elevator 
at  Poughkeepsie  of  James 
Reynolds  (son  of  James  Rey- 
nolds, Jr.)  and  since  then  the  same  have  been  con- 
ducted under  the  firm-name  of  the  Reynolds  Elevator 
Company.  The  large  warehouse  is  at  the  northern 
end  of  Garden  street,  on  the  tracks  of  the  New  YorL\ 
New  Haven  c&  Hartford  Railroad  and,  through 
two  retail  stores  (one  at  226  Union  street,  the  other 
at  15  Catharine  street),  the  firm  furnishes  local 
retail  custom  with  grain,  feeds,  seeds,  poultry  sup- 
plies, etc.  Mr.  Lewis  Van  Vlack,  who  has  been 
associated  with  this  branch  many  years,  is  now  in 
charge  of  sales  and  personnel.  Mr.  Augustus 
W.  Jewett,  identified  with  the  Reynolds  Elevator 
Company  for  a  long  time,  has  only  just  retired 
because  of  ill  health. 

In  1917  IVm.  T.  Reynolds  d:  Co.  took  over  a 
well  equipped  mill  at  Liberty,  N.  Y.,  which  they 
now  operate  under  the  name  of  the  Renco  Milis. 
Mr.  M.  D.  Misner  is  the  manager.  The  i)lant 
serves  principally  the  dairy  interests  of  its  section, 
and  has  a  large  local  business  in  flour  and  grain. 

In  1918  ]Vm.  T.  Reynolds  &  Co.  acquired  a 
plant  at  Fulton,  N.  Y.,  which  occupies  a  particu- 
larly advantageous  position.  Fulton  is  on  the 
Oswego  River  and  has  abundant  water-power  for 
milling.  It  is  on  the  line  of  the  barge  canal  and  is 
connected   with    the    western    grain-fields    by    all 


Renco  Mills,  Liberty,  N.  Y. 


Renco  Milling  Company,  Fulton,  N.  Y. 


Reynolds  Elevator  Company  Warehouse,  Poughkeepsie 


water  and  all  rail  routes.  It  is  also  connected  with 
Poughkeepsie  by  all  water  and  all  rail  transporta- 
tion systems.  The  business  here  is  operated  as  the 
Renco  Milling  Company.  Mr.  Charles  H.  Elwell 
is  the  resident  manager.  The  mill  is  equipped  with 
modern  machinery  and  is  doing  a  large  business  in 
flour,  grain,  cereal  products,  poultry  and  dairy 
feeds. 

Standing  at  the  opening  of 
T>r>Tx^r>ir>T  T-c"       the  second  century  of  its  busi- 

PRINCIPLES  „  Vt         4.1.       U  £    Tir  rr 

ness  lite,  the  house  of  Wm.  T. 

Reynolds  &  Co.,  Inc.,  would 
emphasize  to  its  friends  its  motto:  Loyalty -Honor- 
and-Fidelity.  On  those  principles  the  business 
was  begun  by  its  founder.  On  those  principles  it 
will  continue  to  be  maintained.  The  aim  of  the 
house  is  service  based  on  loyalty  to  high  ideals, 
honor  between  men,  fidelity  to  duty. 


Reynolds  Elevator  Company,  Office  and  Store,  Poughkeepsie 


•  • >     6  i_ 


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INTENTIONAL  SECOND  EXPOSURE 


ReynoKls  Klevator  Company  Warehouse,  Poughkeepsie 


water  and  all  rail  routes.  It  is  also  connected  with 
Poughkeepsie  by  all  water  and  all  rail  transporta- 
tion systems.  The  business  here  is  operated  as  the 
Renco  Milling  Company.  Mr.  Charles  H.  Elwell 
is  the  resident  manager.  The  mill  is  equipped  with 
modern  machinery  and  is  doing  a  large  business  in 
flour,  grain,  cereal  products,  poultry  and  dairy 
feeds. 

Standing  at  the  opening  of 

r*RT\T'IPT  F^  ^^^  second  century  of  its  busi- 
ness life,  the  house  of  JJ^m.  T. 
Reynolds  &  Co.,  Inc.,  would 
emphasize  to  its  friends  its  motto:  Loyalty-Honor- 
and-Fidelity.  On  those  principles  the  business 
was  begun  by  its  founder.  On  those  principles  it 
will  continue  to  be  maintained.  The  aim  of  the 
house  is  service  based  on  loyalty  to  high  ideals, 
honor  between  men,  fidelity  to  duty. 


Reynolds  Elevator  Company,  Office  and  Store,  Poughkeepsie 


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Frank  B.  Howard 
Poughkeepsie 


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COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARIES 


0041416163 


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